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Life in the Fishbowl Ministers and their families live under remarkable pressures. Their lives are examined in a fishbowl, as the congregation and community observe their every move. Clergy families are expected to be the “perfect family” by constantly being available to deal and work with other peoples’ problems so that their lives can continue to remain stable and secure. These unrealistic expectations are damaging to a clergy family unit, physically and emotionally. However, society becomes disappointed if the pastor and his family become overwhelmed or depressed, but on the other hand, society would never blame themselves for clergy family “failures.” Clergy families face unrealistic expectations and pressures, such as portraying the “ideal” family, that contribute to the difficult challenges they endure. Heavy demands from society can make for loads of pressure on clergy families. According to December 1992 Current Thoughts & Trends (a monthly print magazine that provide reliable information on what's happening in the Christian and secular worlds), 94% of clergy families felt under pressure to have the “ideal” family (Pastor 2). For instance, pastors have expectations of portraying multiple profess